Anti-Fracking Group Holds Protests at DEC Headquarters in Albany

ALBANY – An environmental advocacy group held a protest outside the Department of Environmental Conservation’s headquarters in Albany Tuesday to urge state officials to speak out about a controversial natural gas drilling technique, hydraulic fracturing.

More than a dozen protestors from the group Frack Action held up signs and handed out Rolling Stone and Salon articles about the practice, which involves breaking up bedrock by pumping water, sand and chemical mixture underground to extract gas. The advocates called out to passers-by walking in and out of the DEC building, urging them to become whistleblowers to expose any wrongdoing within the agency.

Frack Action also wants the DEC to take its time when assessing the thousands of letters mailed to them and the governor during the public comment period of the agency’s hydraulic fracturing study. In February, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a decision on hydraulic fracturing could come in a couple of months.

The issue of Hydro-fracking will take center stage in Jamestown later this month. On April 24, the Robert H. Jackson Center will present a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar entitled, “To Frack or Not to Frack? That is the Question.”

A variety of speakers will be featured including keynote speaker Commissioner Joseph Martens of the New York DEC.

While the seminar and luncheon are free of charge, seating is limited. Advanced registration is encouraged. Participants are asked to register by calling 847-5461 before Friday, April 13.